Lounge booth-type seats



Feb. 25, 1958 C. W. Q UINLAN LOUNGE BOOTH-TYPE SEATS Filed June 29, 1956 INVENTOR.

CH RLES W. QUINLAN.

ATTORNEY.

r I In 4.

LOUNGE BOOTH-TYPE SEATS Charles W. Quinlan, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 29, 1956, Serial No. 594,958

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-112) The invention relates to improvements in lounge boothtype seats and is particularly concerned with the novel construction of such a seat wherein there is provided a fold-away table assembly or like service device.

The structure of the present invention is particularly adapted to be incorporated in the back-support portion of an upholstered booth-type seat and it includes a service table assembly having a frame structure that is pivotally mounted in a recess in the back-support portion in such manner that it is foldable out of the way when not in use and is easily pulled outwardly downwardly into a substantially horizontal position over and spaced above the seat portion so as to function as a support for a table top and also is slid-able on the frame structure so that it may be moved forwardly away from the back-support portion and thereby be positioned in a place most convenient for use.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a seat structure of the character above referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat structure of the character described.

Still another object is to provide a novel pivotal and slidable mounting for a service table top.

A further object is to provide a novelly constructed service table assembly having a novelly mounted table top.

Another object is to provide a rugged structure of the character described, which is not expensive to manufacture and which is very efiicient when in use.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such additional objects as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to identify corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an upholstered boothtype seat assembly embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the seat assembly showing the back-support portion partially broken away to illustrate the service table assembly and its mounting;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the table frame structure; and 1 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the table top, viewed from the bottom side.

The structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a lounge type seat structure including a seat portion 1 which may be constructed and upholstered in any conventional manner and an upholstered back-support portion 2. The back portion includes, medially of the seat structure illustrated, a pair of spaced vertical frame sections or supports 3 that are contoured substantially to the contour of the transverse section through the back portion and which may be integrated in the back portion frame in any conventional or practical manner so as to be rigid. The frame sections or supports 3 define the vertical side walls of a rectangular recess 4 in the front side of the back portion, which recess has a top wall 5 and a bottom wall 6. The said top and bottom walls, as well as the side walls and back wall 7 of said recess, are covered preferably with the same or harmonizing upholstery material as that used to cover the back structure.

The service table assembly, generally indicated at 8, includes a frame structure 9 and a table top iii. The frame structure 9 comprises a substantially rectangular box-like arrangement including parallel side walls 11 and connecting transverse end walls 12 and 13. The end wall 12 is set inwardly of the related ends of the side walls so as to define tail portions 14 which afford means for mounting the frame structure pivotally in the recess 4.

As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the frame structure 9 has its tail portions 14 fitted into the lower end portion of the recess 4, between the vertical supports 3. A pivot rod 15 is projected through horizontally aligned apertures in both tail portions 14 and supports 3 and the projecting ends of said rod may receive cotter pins 16 or other means for securing the pivot rod against displacement. The frame structure 9 is thus pivotally secured adjacent one end to the supports 3 for swinging movement upwardly rearwardly from the usable position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, into a concealed position within the recess 4. The frame structure 9 is suitably covered on its sides, bottom and front end with upholstery material 17 so that, when folded into the recess 4, the recessed back assembly will be unbroken except for the presence of the marginal outline of the recess which is now fully occupied by the covered frame structure 9.

In order to guide swinging movement of the frame structure 9 into and to retain it in either of its two positions there is provided on the tail portions 14 thereof, a transverse guide rod 18. This rod is located in vertical alignment above the axis of the pivot rod 15, as viewed in Fig. 2, and its ends project laterally beyond the outside faces of the side walls 11 so as to protrude through arcuate slots 19 provided one in each support 3. These slots have their axis on the pivot rod 15. Longitudinal displacement of the guide rod 18 is avoided by heading one end, as at 26, and providing a nut 21 at its other end. Nut displacement may be prevented by a cotter pin 22. Washers 23, placed one beneath the head 20 and one be neath the nut 21, minimize wear on the opposed surfaces of the supports 3 in the area of the slots 19. It should be evident that the frame structure 9 may be moved freely into either position; the guide rod 18 moving therewith from one end of the slots 19 to the other ends thereof, and that such swinging movement is limited by abutment of the said rod 18 with the ends of the slots. A tab or flap 24 may be carried on the free end of the frame structure 9 to facilitate its manual withdrawal from the recess 4.

The table top 10 on the service table assembly 8 is mounted on the upper surface of the frame structure 9.(as viewed in Fig. 2) and it is substantially rectangular in shape and is of a size to fit freely into the recess 4 when the assembly is folded upwardly thereinto. Normally, the rearmost edge of the table top 10 abuts the rear end wall 12. However, in order to locate the table top in a position for convenient usage, it is slidably mounted on the frame structure 9 so as to be movable lengthwise outwardly away from the back-support portion 2 when it is in its horizontal position of use. It is shown in such position in Fig. 2. The table top is therefore, provided, preferably, with a pair of aligned rings or eyelets 25 on its bottom face that are engaged over a rod 26 anchored at its ends in the frame end walls 12 and 13. The eye- Patented Feb. 25, 1958- lets have a loose sliding fit on the rod 26 so that when the table assembly is swung upwardly from its position of use into its concealed position, the table top will slide toward the wall 12 by reason of its own weight. There is therefore, no possibility of the table top remaining projected while the assembly is being moved into concealed position within the recess 4. Obviously, other slidable means may be utilized to mount the table top 10, but the means disclosed is most inexpensive and has been found to be very serviceable.

Although the invention has been illustrated as applied to a booth-type seat of a size to accommodate two persons, one on each side of the table assembly 8, the invention may be incorporated in seat structures of any length in which event there may be table assemblies provided at such intervals as will accommodate two or more persons between each.

As other embodiments may be made, which include the invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a seat having an upstanding covered back frame including a pair of parallel spaced substantially vertical supports defining a recess between them, a table assembly mounted on said back frame comprising a substantially rectangular shallow frame structure including spaced side walls each having a tail portion extending beyond one end of the frame structure, said tail portions extending into the recess and being pivotally secured to the supports by common pivot means for swinging movement of the frame structure from a position of substantial concealment within the recess into a substantially horizontal position of use, cooperating stop means on said tail portions and in the supports to limit pivotal movement of the frame structure, a table top supported on one face of the frame structure, said table top being of such size as to be movable with the frame structure into the recess, cooperating means on the table top and on the frame structure for securing the table top slidably thereto, the means on the table top being engageable with the frame structure to limit sliding of the table top in one direction, an abutment surface on said frame structure engageable by the table top to limit its sliding in the other direction, and covering means on the other face of the frame structure complemental with the back frame covering so as to substantially conceal the frame structure when it is located wholly within the recess.

2. In combination with a seat having an upstanding back frame including a pair of parallel spaced substantially vertical supports defining a recess between them, a table assembly mounted on said back frame comprising a substantially rectangular frame structure including spaced side walls each having a tail portion extending beyond one end of the frame structure, said tail portions extending into the recess, means pivotally securing the tail portions to the supports for swinging movement of the frame structure from a substantially vertical position of substantial concealment within the recess into a substantially horizontal position of use, cooperating stop means on said tail portions and in the supports to limit pivotal movement of the frame structure, a table top supported on one face of the frame structure, said table top being of such size as to be movable with the frame structure into the recess, cooperating means on the table top and on the frame structure for securing the table top slidably thereto, the means on the table top being engageable with the frame structure to limit sliding of the table top in one direction, and an abutment surface on said frame structure engageable by one end edge of the table top to limit its sliding in the other direction.

3. In combination with a seat having an upstanding back frame including a pair of parallel spaced substantially vertical supports defining a recess between them, a table assembly mounted on said back frame comprising a substantially rectangular frame structure including spaced side walls and a connecting end wall, said side walls each having a tail portion extending beyond said end wall, said tail portions extending into the recess, means pivotally securing the tail portions to the supports for swinging movement of the frame structure from a substantially vertical position within the recess into a substantially horizontal position of use, cooperating stop members on said tail portions and on the supports to limit pivotal movement of the frame structure, a table top mounted on the frame structure, cooperating means on the table top and on the frame structure for securing the table top slidably thereto, the means on the table top being engageable with the frame structure to limit sliding of the table top in one direction, and said table top being engageable by the said end wall to limit its sliding in the other direction.

4. In combination with a seat having an upstanding back frame including a pair of parallel spaced substantially vertical supports defining a space between them, a table assembly mounted on said back frame comprising a substantially rectangular frame structure including spaced side walls each having a tail portion extending beyond one end of the frame structure, said tail portions extending between the vertical supports, means pivotally securing the tail portions to the supports for swinging movement of the frame structure from a substantially vertical position between the supports into a substantially horizontal position of use, lateral projections on said tail portions and cooperating slots in the supports to limit pivotal movement of the frame structure, a table top supported on one face of the frame structure, cooperating means on the table top and on the frame structure for securing the table top slidably thereto, the means on the table top being engageable with the frame structure to limit sliding of the table top in one direction, and an end wall on said frame structure engageable by the table top to limit its sliding in the other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,758,693 France May 13, 1930 2,516,265 Shulman July 25, 1950 2,691,408 Beard Oct. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,608 Switzerland July 31, 1900 

